Socceroos’ insane win streak comes to heartbreaking end

The loss to the Samurai Blue continued Australia’s horror streak against their continental rivals, as the narrow defeat meant Graham Arnold’s side has won just the solitary game against Japan in their last eleven encounters.

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There were warning signs early on as Japan constantly made inroads down Australia’s left hand side in the opening minutes of the game, but it was a deflected cross from Japan’s Takumi Minamo on Australia’s right flank that led to the opener.

Aziz Behich misread the cross and failed to deal with it, and the ball fell perfectly for Ao Tanaka to rifle a shot past Mat Ryan and open the scoring.

Tanaka’s goal was checked through VAR for a possible offside, but the goal stood.

For the majority of the first half, the Socceroos were their own worst enemy as the side coughed up possession in dangerous areas on numerous occasions.

Australian midfielder Ajdin Hrustic was one player who thanked his lucky stars, as a loose touch from the 25-year-old gifted Yuya Osako a golden opportunity to extend Japan’s lead in the 34th minute, but he fired wide of the left post.

The Socceroos were constantly frustrated by a resolute Japan side, and had to wait until the 40th minute before the side finally had a clear-cut chance.

Martin Boyle played a good ball over the top of the Japanese backline for Adam Taggart, who provided a delightful give-and-go with Tom Rogic to put the striker through on goal, but his stinging effort was pushed onto the post by Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.

Socceroos gloveman Mat Ryan was called into action to snuff out numerous crosses from Japan, and had to be alert to dive down to his left in order to keep out a low shot from Minamino.

As Japan continued to frustrate Australia in the second half, a well-worked passage of play found Martin Boyle in acres of space on the right hand side, and his cutback was bound for the feet of Hrustic.

However, the midfielder was cleaned up by Hidemasa Morita from behind, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty.

But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned and a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the area.

Hrustic, the man who won the foul in the first place, stepped up to the plate and delivered a rocket of a free-kick that thumped the underside of the crossbar and found the roof of the net to level the scores in the 69th minute.

After Hrustic’s stunning equaliser, the game exploded into life as both teams began to throw caution to the wind and left themselves vulnerable to blistering counter-attacks.

The Socceroos almost gift-wrapped Japan a second goal, as a backpass from Ryan found no-one in a gold shirt and Japan sprung into attack, but a stunning double-save from the Real Sociedad gloveman kept the score at one apiece.

Despite Ryan’s best efforts throughout the second half to repel constant counter-attacks from Japan, he could do nothing for Japan’s winning goal.

A cross deflected off of Fran Karacic, which Ryan managed to get a glove to, but it wasn’t enough as the ball hit the right post and bounced off of Behich and into the back of the net for the most heartbreaking of finishes.

Even with the loss, Australia still sit in first place of Group B with nine points, but Japan’s victory gave them a much-needed boost as they find themselves on six points.

Japan 2 (Tanaka 8’, Behich OG 85’) d Australia 1 (Hrustic 69’)

Australia: Mat Ryan (c), Fran Karacic (Rhyan Grant, 89’), Harry Souttar, Trent Sainsbury, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Ajdin Hrustic, Aaron Mooy (Awer Mabil, 61’), Tom Rogic (James Jeggo, 80’), Martin Boyle (Chris Ikonomidis, 89’), Adam Taggart (Mitchell Duke, 61’)